Cap tightener



April 8, 1958 COOPER 2,829,479

CAP TIGHTENER Filed June 14; 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Direction of Travel INVENTOR. JOHN C O OFE R II l' V r 2 ATTO/N Y April 8, 1958 J. COOPER 2,829,479

CAP TIGHTENER Filed June 14. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN COOPER E s? n gzmm ATTORNEY April s, 1958 J. COOPER CAP TIGHTENER Filed June 14. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN COOPER A7 TORNEY J. COOPER CAP TIGHTENER April 8, 1958 Filed Julie 14, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JO/l/V COOPER AT TORMEY J. COOPER CAP TIGHTENER April s, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jurie 14, 1954 INVENTOR JOHN c OOPER AT TORN' Y United States Patent CAP TIGHTENER John. Cooper, Long Beach, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Home Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,652 12 Claims. (Cl. 53-3315) This invention relates to a new and improved cap tightening apparatus particularly adapted for tightening screw-threaded closure caps on containers.

More particularly, my invention is concerned with an improved cap tightening apparatus wherein file elements, one moving and the other stationary, contact opposed peripheral edges of the caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on the containers, these caps being tightened in place as the containers, with their respective closure caps loosely in place thereon, are conveyed through the apparatus.

File elements have many advantages over other kinds of closure cap engaging elements in cap tightening operations. They are inexpensive and easily replaceable, and the file edges make very satisfactory edge-contacting elements, suitable for use both when the edges of the closure caps are knurled, and when they are relatively smooth. File pieces are readily held in place in supports by which they may either be held stationary, or moved into and out of contact with the peripheral edge portions of the caps.

A series of such files is easily provided, each pair of file pieces, one fixed and the other movable, successively contacting the closure cap as the container is conveyed longitudinally through the cap tightener mechanism, until tight screw-threaded engagement between cap and container is secured. In accordance with my invention each movable file piece may be resiliently supported so that it contacts the closure cap without damage thereto, being supported, however, on its own individual supporting plate, and all the supporting plates and movable file pieces carried thereby are driven from a single moving plate which rests upon, and is supported from, the frame of the apparatus.

My invention can best be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a cap tightening apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, looking down on the cap tightener, this view showing cans whose screw-threaded closure caps have been and are being tightened;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the underside of the driven plate member which carries the cap tightening elements;

"Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the rotating shaft and eccentric by which the plate member shown in Fig.

ice

one of the file pieces which constitute movable cap gripping and tightening elements is held with reference to the driven plate member;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the driving mechanism for driving the plate member and cap gripping and tightening elements supported thereby. It is a view in elevation, similar to Fig. 1, except that the guard cover, shown at the lower part of Fig. 1, has been removed to permit access to the driving mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly of a schematic character, showing the driving mechanism for driving the rotating shafts with which the driven plate member is operatively connected through eccentrics formed at one end of the rotating shafts;

Fig. 10 is a view of the supporting structure for the cap tightening mechanism with the operating elements removed, this view being in elevation, taken at the right hand end of the apparatus as shown in Fig. l, and looking in the direction of can travel;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view taken at the right hand end of Fig. 2, this view having the plate elements partially cut away to show the supporting member for the driven plate and the apertures in said member through which the driving eccentrics extend;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the chains which advance the cans and the can covers carried thereby past the cap tightening mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view showing the right hand end of one of the movable tightener elements.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 10, the improved apparatus includes a trough or channel in which the cans whose covers are to be tightened are conveyed through the tightening mechanism, this trough being defined by the upstanding flanges of angle irons 13 and 14, and spaced cross angle members 15. Track 16 tests on the cross angle members 15 (Fig. 6), and this track is formed with two grooves 17 for the endless block chains 18 (Fig. 12) which convey the cans by contact with the bases thereof through the apparatus and into engagement with the cap tightening elements. During the period the cap tightening elements engage the friction closure cap 19 on each can 20, these caps, which may be knurled on their outer periphery as is usual with friction closure caps (but are not necessarily knurled), are tightened into place. Each can has a handle 20', which may be of wire, on its top surface. The conveyer channel forming elements, as well as the grooved track 16, are supported from the machine frame 21 through angle stiffening struts 22.

As shown in Fig. 12, each block chain 18 is formed With alternate solid blocks 23, joined at each end by side elements 18, through which extend the pintles 25.

On a level with the tops of cans 20 as they are conveyed by chains 18 through the apparatus, there is provided an upper guide channel defined on one side by the depending flange of angle iron 26. This angle iron 26, on the upper horizontal leg of which the movable cap tightening mechanism rests as will be subsequently described, is supported from the cross angle members 15 by means of angle columns 27, to the upper end surfaces of which columns, immediately below the horizontal leg of angle 26, are welded the fiat bearing plates 23. On the other side of the can channel there are the two spaced supports 29 for the fiat upper flange 36 which rests thereon. This whole assembly is preferably formed of a single U-shaped member, and the supports 29 are each welded at their lower ends to the angle iron 14. A safety guard 31 (shown broken in Fig. 2), provided with up-tnrned edge 54, is bolted to the angle iron 26 by means of cross bar 32 and bolts 33 on the approach side. This serves as a pinch point guard, and as the cans approach the first set of cap tightening elements it also depresses the handles 23'.

At a level with the can covers as the cans travel through the cap tightening mechanism there is provided, at one end of the channel, "a fixed cap tightening element '35. Thisext'e'ndstliroughoufthe entireextent' of the channel in which tightening of the caps 19 takes place. The element 35 may be formed from a pillar file, the teeth '36 thereof projecting into contact with the outer periphery of the can covers19. Since only the teeth onone edge portion of the file where it contacts the covers are effective in providing the friction necessary 'to hold the can covers during thetightening operation, the teeth on the other three surfaces of the file (if a file is used for the element 35) maybe ground down so that'these surfaces are smooth. The unused surfaces of the file mu'stbe smoothed as'desc'ribed. Of course the fixed tightening element 35 need not be a file, but these available tools make very satisfactory tightening elements.

The fixed tightening element 35 is seated in a seat formed in the extending plate member 37 (Fig. 6), which is held by nutted bolts 38, 39 (Fig. 6) to the horizontal flange which rests on and is integral with the spaced supports 29. As shown, cover plates 41 extend at spaced intervals over the fixed file 35, being secured to the plate member 37 by means of the nutted bolts '33, 39. Through these cover plates 41 extend cap screws 42, which bear against the shim 420 which is between the file and the cover plate 41. The cap screws and shims hold the fixed tightening element (file) 35 in position.

On the other side of the channel, that remote from the fixed tightening elements 35, there is provided a plurality of movable cap tightening elements 43, of which four are shown in the illustrative embodiment. For can caps requiring more turns any number of movable file elements could be used without cap scuffing because of the resilient support for these elements, as will subsequently be explained. Three of these cap tightening elements 43 are illustrated in full in Fig. 2, the fourth tightening element, at the left of the figure, being broken away and but partly illustrated, only the right hand portion thereof being visible. These movable cap tightening elements 43 may consist of pillar files or file pieces which may, advantageously, have all sides thereof, except the edge which contacts the can caps, smoothed down by grinding off the sharp edges of the filing surfaces. Since pillar files are very satisfactory for this purpose the elements 43 will hereinafter be interchangeably referred to as movable tightening elements, or as files. The teeth of each movable file 43 which contacts the can covers extend in a direction which is opposite to that of the teeth of the fixed tightening element 35. Fig. 13 shows the teeth of one of the movable files 43 in detail, the curved arrow on this figure showing the direction of orbital motion imparted to each movable cap tightening element, as will subsequently be explained.

In positioning each of the file pieces 43 in place, it is first ground as shown at 44 (one corner of the file piece being removed) so that this end 44 will fit into a notch 45 formed in the guide block 46 which is fastened by means of machine screws 47 to the upper surface of the plate 48 which constitutes a driver for each of the movable tightening elements 43. There are provided as many such driver plates 48 as there are movable file pieces 43, and in a preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawing, four files 43, carried by four plates 48, are used. At the other end, 49, each file piece 43 fits under a lipped block 50 (Fig. 7) which is also fastened to the driver plate 43 by means of machine screws 51. A stud 52 is ground or otherwise formed on the end 49 of each file piece 43 to form a seat for each of the springs 53, which springs are held at the other end by the fixed supports 54- (four of these supports being shown). In each case the spring 53 is arranged so as to exert a force on the file 43 adjacent to it which is out of parallel with the direction of its longitudinal extent, this force being exerted in a direction away from the can caps as shown in Fig. 2. A bolt 55 extends through each of the fixed supports 54, this bolt being tightly held with respect to the support by nut 56. At the exterior end of each of the bolts 55 there is provided a pair of nuts 57, which are adjustable along the bolt. Each spring 53, which is arranged out of parallel as described, extends between the stud 5.. on file 43 and the nuts 57, fitting over the exposed end of the bolt 55. By moving the pair of nuts '57 along the bolt the compression of the spring 53 can be regulated, thereby preventing sending of the caps when they are tightened, and'thus eliminating burrs on the finished product. v

Each file piece 43 is therefore easily pushed into place, being retained in the guide block 46 and block 50 by action of the spring 53. Each of these springs may be snapped into place, or out of place, as desired, thus permitting both easy insertion, and easy removal, :of each of the file pieces 43 from the apparatus.

Each of the driver plates 48 is mounted to. permit restricted relative movement with respect to the driven supporting plate 58 in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the cans 20 and chains 18 travel when the file 43 carried thereby is against a cap. The driven plate 58 extends below each driver plate 48 and, by its move ment, imparts movement to each of the four driver plates 48 and to each of the cap tightening elements 43 carried thereby. Driven plate 58, which is given a longitudinal reciprocating and back-and-forth lateral (orbital) move ment by mechanism subsequently to be described, is supported for movement on the upper flat surface of the angle iron 26 (Fig. 6), being positioned at one end below cover plate 59, which is held by cross bar 32 boltedto angle iron 26. A pair of transversally-extending slots 60 areformed in each of the driver plates 48. 130148161 seated in the driven supporting plate 58 extend through these slots and have internally screw-threaded nuts- 62 screw-threadedly engaged thereon. Washers'63 are position between the nuts and the driver 'plates48. Because of the slots it is possible for the driver plate 48 to-move toward and away from the can covers 19, thus permitting the movable tightening elements 43 to come into contact with the can covers, and to be withdrawn from contact therewith, as the driven plate Sit-moves away from the can channel.

Each of the driver plates 48 is resilientlysupported with respect to the lower driven plate 58 by means of -spring elements 64. These springs 64 are mounted between apertured lugs 65, welded, or otherwise secured, adjacent one edge portion of each driver plate 48. Bolts 66extend through this lug. Four apertured lugs 67 are welded, or otherwise secured, adjacent to the edge portion of driven plate 58, opposite each of the lugs 65. Threaded bolts 68 extend through the lugs 67, and on .each of these a movable nut 69 is adapted for travel. Since each spring 64 extends between lug and nut 69,-thedegreeof compression of each spring 64 may be regulated by-turning each nut. There is thus provided a resilient driving connection between each driver plate 48, with itsuassociated cap tightener element 43, and the lower driven plate 58.

For transmitting both transverse and longitudinal reciprocating motion to the lower driven plate 58, each of the rotating shafts 70, 71 (Figs. 4 and 5) is provided with an eccentric at one end thereof, this eccentric 'being'fo'rrned by displacement of the end of each rotating shaft, as shown at 72, 73. The eccentric end 72 of rotating shaft is seated in a socket 74 on the underside of the driven plate 58 (Fig. 3). This socket 74 is bolted to the driven plate 53 and extends through an aperture 75 (Fig. 11') formed in the upper surface of the angle iron support 26. Eccentric 73 on'rotating shaft 71 is seatedbe'tween a pair of short parallel bars 76, which are also bolted to the underneath surface of driven plate 58, thus forming an elongated channel seat for this eccentric. The bars 76 extend through asecond aperture 77 formed in the upper surface of angle iron support 26.

Rotation of shaft 70 will therefore impart both longitudinal and transverse reciprocating movement (orbital) to driven plate 58 by means of eccentric 72, while only transverse reciprocating motion is imparted to the driven plate 58 by rotating shaft 71 since the driving eccentric 73 will travel freely between bars 76 in a direction longitudinal to the plate, while effectively transmitting motion in the transverse direction to the driven plate 58 by pressure against bars 76. In this Way precision fitting of two eccentrics to a single driven plate 58 is avoided, at the same time providing means for effectively imparting both longitudinal and to-and-from (orbital) motion to the driven plate 58 and to each of the driver plates 48 resiliently connected thereto.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the rotating shafts 70, '71, which are respectively seated in thrust bearings 78 and 79, are driven from the motor M by means of pulleys, belt, and a beveled gear drive. Belt 80 transmits the ro' tation from the shaft of the electric motor M to pulley 81 and shaft 82. Bevel pinion 83 is mounted on the end of shaft 82. This pinion meshes with bevel gear 84, which is keyed or otherwise secured to the rotating shaft 70. Sprocket 85 is also mounted on the shaft 70 below bevel gear 84, being keyed or otherwise secured to the rotating shaft. Sprocket chain 86 is driven by rotation of sprocket 85, the other end of this chain passing over sprocket wheel 87 which is keyed, or otherwise secured, to rotating shaft 71. The adjustable idler sprocket 88 between the sprocket wheels permits regulation of the degree of tautness of the sprocket chain 86.

In this Way power from the electric motor or other prime mover M is transmitted to both of the rotating shafts 70 and 71, which, in turn, impart both longitudinal and transverse reciprocating motion to the lower driven plate 58. Since the upper or driver plates 48 are resiliently mounted with respect to the lower driven plate 58, reciprocating longitudinal and transverse motion of the driven plate 58 is also transmitted to each of the driver plates 48, and to the movable tightener (file) elements 43 carried by each of these driver plates.

The lower ends of the shafts 70 and 71, including thrust bearings 78 and 79, short shaft 89 of adjustable idler sprocket 88, the associated sprocket chain 86 and other mechanism are supported on the angle iron 90. As shown in Fig. 10, this angle 90 is welded to a pair of vertical angle irons 91, which, in turn, are welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the spaced cross angle iron members 15. In this way the shafting, associated bevel gears, sprocket chain, and other elements for imparting rotation to shafts 70 and 71 are supported from the machine frame 21 through angle stiffening struts 22. The removable cover 92, which normally covers the opperating mechanism, is also supported by means of bolts 93 from angle iron (Fig. 6).

Mathematically, each of the driver plates 48, and the supported movable tightener elements carried thereby, should move at a linear speed which is, for all practical purposes, twice that of the speed at which the cans with their respective can covers are fed to the tightening apparatus. For example, if the cans are fed at a speed of 171 inches per minute, the gripping surfaces of the files 43 can be advantageously moved at a speed which is approximately twice, or 342 inches per minute. Operation in this way may be effected in the apparatus shown by rotating the shafts 70, 71 at a speed of approximately 193 revolutions per minute, where the construction is such that the eccentricity of each of the eccentrics 72, 73 is substantially nine-thirtyseconds of an inch.

Operation My cap tightening apparatus operates as follows. The cans 20 with their screw-threaded closure caps 19 which are to be tightened in place on the cans are moved forwardly in the direction indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, being carried along, one after the other, in file, by means of the block link chains 18. As they approach the fixed tightening elements 35* and the first driver plate 48 carrying its movable tightening element 43, these: elements contact the periphery of the closure cap 19. The fixed tightening element (file) 35, contacting the cap periphery, tends to hold the cap against the movable tightening element 43, while the longitudinal movement of the latter, moving in the same direction as the row of cans, effects partial tightening of the screw-threaded cap which is in place on the neck of each can 20.

As the driven plate 58 moves in a rotary or orbital motion, carrying with it the driver plate 48 and its supported movable tightening element 43, it is evident that an initial tightening impulse is given to each can cover 19, and that tightening ceases after this initial impulse as the tile 43 is pulled out of contact with the can cover by movement of the driven plate 58. However, as the oribtal motion of the driven plate 58 is continued, the tightening element 43 is again brought into contact with the can cover and imparts a second tightening impulse thereto. As the row of cans 20 with their screw-threaded covers 19 passes through the apparatus in the direction of travel indicated, it is evident that the can covers come into contact with each of the successive movable tightening elements 43, carried by successive driver plates 48. Each of the four movable tightening elements 43 as used in a preferred embodiment of my invention (three of which are fully illustrated in Fig. 2), all carried by their respective driver plates 48, therefore contacts the can covers in sequence in a series of tightening impulses, effectively screwing each cap tightly in place on the can neck.

The paths of movement described by both the driver plate 48, and by the driven plate 58, are circular when the movable tightening element 43 does not contact a can cap which is to be tightened. Also, when acap 19 on a can 28 is in contact with the movable file 43, and is being rolled on, i. e., tightened, whether that cap is still being turned, or has already been screwed on to the point at which it is tight in place and its rotation ceases, driven plate 58 will still move in a circular orbital path, being positively driven by shafts 70, 71 and eccentrics 72, 73.

This is also true of the path of movement of each of the driver plates 48 throughout most of that path when the movable file 43 carried thereby is in contact with a can cap, this path being flattened, however, at that portion thereof which is adjacent to the cap. This flattening of the path at one part thereof occurs both when the can cap is being tightened, and after it has already been tightened into place and its rotation has ceased.

This flattening of the path of movement of driver plate 48 takes place through compression of springs 64 to an extent suflicient to permit movable file 43 to contact the edge of the cap. The files follow the same flattened path of movement of driver plate 48 while the caps with which they are in contact are still being tightened, but after the cap is tight and its rotation ceases, spring 53 is compressed as the edge of the cap slips along the edge of tile 43. Each movable file 4-3 is then quickly withdrawn from contact with the cap as driver plate 58 recedes in a direction away from the can channel, carrying along with it driver plate At this point spring 53 snaps back and the movable file 43 returns to its original position in guide block as and lipped block 50.

At that point where a cap which has been screwed down in place is held between opposing file pieces 35 and 43, the can, cap, and tightening elements are all stationary. However, driver plate 48 is still in motion.

As the can 2t is also stationary at this point, the can bottom slips with reference to the conveyor chains 18.

The above description of a preferred embodiment of my invention is intended primarily to be illustrative. Modifications thereof, or variations therefrom, which conform to the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Cap tightening apparatus for tightening closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising: a fixed file element adapted to press against the peripheries of said closure caps during the tightening operation; movable cap tightening means including a member having a serrated edge which contacts-said peripheries of said closure caps and rotates them-in place on said containers, said movable cap tightening means being adapted to intermittently contact part'of said peripheries ofsaid closure caps; and means for moving said movable cap tightening means into and out of contact with said closure caps, and for moving saidmeans with respect to the peripheries of said closure caps while they are in contact therewith, whereby said closure caps may be tightly screwed in place on said containers.

2. Cap tightening apparatus for tightenin closure caps which are screW-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a conveyer to 'move'containers with said closure caps loosely in place thereon along a pathduring which said closure caps come into contact with said cap tightening means; fixed cap tightening means including a member provided with a serrated contacting edge portion which contacts the pe ripheries of said closure capsas they are moved along said path; a plurality of movable cap tightening ele *rnents oppositely disposed with reference to said fixed cap tightening means and adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the peripheries of said closure caps; and means for moving said movable cap tightening ele ments into and out of contact with said closure caps and in such direction that they rotate said closure caps on opposite sides of said closure caps as said containers are conveyed into position for tightening of said closure capsyoneof said cap tight ng elements being stationary and the other of said elements being movable into and out of contact withindividual closure caps, said movable cap tightening element being moved while in contact with a closure cap in such direction as to cause said cap to be rotated and tightened in place on the container on which it is positioned; and means for moving said movable cap tightener element in an orbital path into and out of contact with said closure caps.

4. Cap tightening apparatus operable to tighten closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a can channel along which containers with their respective closure caps loosely in place thereon are conveyed, said closure caps coming into contat with cap tightening elements as said cans are moved through said channel; a fixed cap tightener element adapted to contact the peripheral edges of said closure caps positioned on one side of said channel; a plurality of movable cap tightener elements positioned at the opposite side of said channel from said fixed cap tightening element, said movable cap tightener elements being movable in a path into and out of contact with individual closure caps, said movement being in such direction as to cause a cap loosetact with said closure-caps.

5. Cap tightening apparatus operable to tighten closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a can channel along which a row of containers with screwthreaded closure caps loosely positioned in place thereon are conveyed, said closure caps being tightened in place by Cap tightening elements as said containers are conveyed along said channel; conveyor means for conveying said containers through said channel; fixed cap tightening-means positioned on one side of said channel, said fixed means including a member provided with a serrated contacting edge surface which comes into contact with the edges of said closure caps; a driven plate positioned adjacent said channel and on the opposite side thereof from said fixed cap tightening means; a plush ity of supporting plates resiliently supported with respect to said driven plate and so positioned thereon as to be moved simultaneously with said driven plate; a plurality of movable cap tightening elements, one of said elements being positioned on each of said supporting plates, and each being adapted for movement in an orbital path into and out of contact with said closure caps as said driven plate and said supporting plates are caused to move in an orbital path, the movement being such that said movable tightening elements are brought into and out of contact successively with said closure caps and cause said caps to rotate as they are held by said fixed cap tightening element, said closure caps being rotated in such direction that they are tightly screwed in place on said containers; and means for moving said driven plate and the associated supporting plates and movable cap tightening elements carried thereby in an orbital path so that said movable cap tightening elements are brought into and out of contact with said closure caps as said containers are moved through said channel.

6. Cap tightening apparatus operable to tighten closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a conveyor for moving said containers with said closure caps loosely positioned thereon along a path during which said closure caps are. acted upon by the cap tightening elements; fixed cap tightening means positioned so as to contact the peripheries of said caps as said containers and closure caps are movedalo-ng said path; a driven plate oppositely disposed with reference to said fixed cap tightening means; a plurality of supporting plates resiliently supported with respect to said driven plate, said supporting plates being so mounted thereon as to be moved simultaneously with said driven plate; a plurality of movable cap tightening elements, one of saidelements being positioned on each of said supporting'plates, and each being adaptedtor movement into and out et contact with said closure caps, whereby said closure caps are rotated by said movable cap tightening elements and screwed down tightly on said containers; and means for moving said driven plate, said supporting plates, and said movable cap tightening elements into and out of contact with said closure caps.

7. Cap tightening apparatus for tightening closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a conveyor for moving said containers with said closure caps loosely positioned thereon along a path during which said closure caps will come into contact with cap tightening elements; fixed cap tightening means including a member with a serrated edge contacting the periphery of said closure caps; a driven plate oppositely disposed with reference tosaid'fixed cap tightening means; supporting plate means resiliently supported from. said driven plate and so positioned with respect thereto as to be moved simultaneously with said driven plate; movable cap tightening means supported by and positioned on said supporting plate means, said movable cap tightening means being capable of being brought into and out of contact with said closure caps as said containers are conveyed along said path, and being moved during the time that said means is in contact with said closure caps in such direction as to tighten said caps on said containers; and means for moving said driven plate, said supporting plate means, and said movable cap tightening means in an orbital path so that said movable cap tightening means is brought into and out of contact with said closure caps.

8. Cap tightening apparatus operable to tighten closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a container channel through which a row of containers with associated closure caps loosely in place thereon are moved, during which movement said closure caps come into contact with cap tightening elements which screw them tightly in place on said containers; a conveyor for moving containers with the closure caps in place thereon through said apparatus; a fixed cap tightening element positioned along one edge portion of said channel in such position as to contact the periphery of said closure caps as said row of containers travels through said channel, said fixed cap tightening element comprising a member with a serrated edge portion which contacts said closure caps; a driven plate supported for orbital movement on the side of said channel opposite to that whereat said fixed cap tightening element is positioned; a plurality of supporting plates positioned on said driven plate and resiliently supported with respect thereto; a plurality of movable tightening elements, one element being supported on each of said supporting plates, and each of said movable cap tightening elements being provided with a serrated edge portion which is moved into and out of contact with the periphery of said closure caps; and means for moving said driven plate, said supporting plates, and said movable cap tightening elements in an orbital path whereby said movable cap tightening elements are moved into and out of contact with said closure caps, and are moved during the time they are in contact with said closure caps in a direction such as to rotate said closure caps and screw them tightly in place on said containers.

9. Cap tightening apparatus operable to tighten closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a container channel through which a row of containers with associated closure caps loosely in place thereon are moved, during which movement said closure caps come into contact with cap tightening elements which screw them tightly in place on said containers; a conveyer for moving con-r tainers with the closure caps in place thereon through said apparatus; a fixed cap tightening element positioned along one edge portion of said channel in such position as to contact the periphery of said closure caps as said row of containers travels through said channel, said fixed cap tightening element comprising a member with a serrated edge portion which contacts said closure caps; a driven plate supported for orbital movement on the side of said channel opposite to that whereat said fixed cap tightening element is positioned; a plurality of supporting plates positioned on said driven plate and resiliently supported with respect thereto; a plurality of movable tightening elements, one element being supported on each of said supporting plates, and each of said movable cap tightening elements being provided with a serrated edge portion which is moved into and out of contact with the periphery of said closure caps; a plurality of rotating shafts having eccentrics formed thereon, said eccentrics being operatively disposed with reference to said driven plate so that said driven plate is caused to move in an orbital path whereby said supporting plates carried thereby and said movable cap tightening elements are also moved in an orbital path so that said movable cap tightening elements are moved into and out of contact with said closure caps, rotating said closure caps and thereby tightening said caps in place during the period they are in contact therewith; and means for rotating said shafts.

l0. Cap tightening apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein one of said eccentrics is seated in a closely fitting socket in said driven plate, and the other of said eccentrics is seated in a channel-shaped seat in said driven plate.

11. In cap tightening apparatus for tightening closure caps which are screW-threadedly engaged on containers, a stationary cap tightening element having a serrated edge surface contacting individual closure caps at one part of their periphery; oppositely disposed movable cap tightening elements contacting another part of the periphery of said closure caps while said caps are in contact with said stationary element, said movable cap tightening elements being each provided with a. serrated edge surface; and means for moving said movable cap tightening elements whereby said closure caps are rotated tightly in place on said containers.

12. In cap tightening apparatus operable for tightening closure caps which are screw-threadedly engaged on containers, a driven plate; a plurality of supporting plates mounted thereon and resiliently disposed with reference to said driven plate; a plurality of cap tightening elements mounted on said supporting plates, said cap tightening elements being so positioned thereon as to permit a limited spring-controlled motion with regard thereto; and means for moving said driven plate, said supporting plates, and said cap tightening elements in an orbital path, whereby said cap tightening elements move into and out of contact with said closure caps, said cap tightening elements during the period they are in contact with said closure caps being moved in such direction that said closure caps are rotated tightly in place on said containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,435,739 Risser Nov. 14, 1922 1,767,818 Smulski June 24, 1930 2,072,245 Cuthbert et al. Mar. 2, 1937 2,435,127 Cameron Jan. 27, 1948 2,440,030 Thomas Apr. 20, 1948 

